Slow Sunday Stitching

I'm just about finished with my baskets - just have one to redo as somehow the basket is not centered on the handle. Then it's start making the leaves.

Lily came for another short visit and she wanted to sew again.  I made her a flannel Barbie doll blanket from a scrap of flannel.  She's embroidering a B in the center of it.

Two of us slow Sunday stitching, so I'm linking to Kathy's party by the same name. Button on sidebar.  WIPs Be Gone still open - just go down two posts and link your eye candy - past or present. Thanks!

RSC 2015 Orange

It's done.  I didn't use all the fabrics I pulled to go with those stars, but I like it.  I've had that animal fabric for a long time trying to find how to make it into a baby quilt.  I had almost given up and was going to just make it a recieving blanket of one fabric and flannel on the back.  Thanks, Angela for the motivation - I like this better. Finished to 36" square - perfect for a St. Anne's quilt. It is now ready to pass on to the next St. Anne's member for sandwiching.

WIPs Be Gone Week 39

WIP #7 (a wall hanging) is done.

 I tried a wrap to the back border to finish the edges.  Didn't want binding to show on this border.  It will hang in my kitchen.

Used a cute lady bug fabric for back.  Hand stitched the binding down back. This is minimally quilted because I wanted the fabric to stand out - all batiks except for border.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?,  and Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks with this finished WIP.

An InLinkz Link-up

Some of This, Some of That Week 39

On my design wall:

Used another 1/2 yard for this.  I'm liking it.

Just off my design wall:

The raffle quilt.  Now I have to think how to quilt it.  Another 3 yards from stash.  This is going to be offered not only in a raffle but as a signature quilt for some family.  The center will have the last name and this year's date.

Total used this week: 3.5 yards.  YTD total of 84.70 yards  de-stashed.  I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away and Cath's Bits n Bobs.        

Orange is the color

Here is my soscrappy quilt for September - so far.  Constructive comments appreciated. I feel it needs to be toned down - maybe with the next border. ???

And also, this is what I'm working on - does that make it a work in progress?

Applique Tuesday

I'm never seeming to get to applique any more. I asked myself why this is happening. Well?  I'm just spending too much time on other things. And?  After taking a long and hard look at my days, I see I spend a lot of time online, and then this video came to my attention:
So I'm going to cut down on my computer time. Now this won't matter to many, but I'm writing this for the few who'll be wondering what's going on in this household. I'll still be here, but I may not have time to reply, comment or post as often with the new regime I'm instigating. I'll see how it goes.

I think I'll go do some applique now.

Blessings,
Angie in SoCal

Some of This, Some of That Week 38

Well I used 2 yards to make another B3Quilt.

This is a Moda pattern from their Go Big Block 2 booklet.  Measures 32" square - just right for a preemie quilt.  It went together fast although I didn't do it in rows as they suggested.  I made the 5 nine-patch blocks that form an "x" in the middle of the quilt and then made the triangles in the center of the edges.  

I liked the pattern so much that I decided to make the Raffle quilt for the Friends of the Library using this pattern to make a album quilt that will be raffled off Oct-December.  

That's what's on my design wall barely.  It's too big - LOL.  Will measure 58" square.  The very center block will have the family's name in the center.  My daugher does great calligraphy and I'm going to ask her to write it in for us.  But first we have to have a winner.   Will take 3.75 yards from my stash.

               Lastly, I've been going through my stash seeing if I can find fabrics to go with my RSC 2015 orange blocks.  These are the ones I've picked so far.  What do you think?  Please advise.  If I use all these it will be another 1/2 yard from my stash as most of this is from the St. Anne's stash.  This baby quilt will go to them.  It's going to be a simple quilt as I want to highlight the stars.  So for my stash report I can say I'll have used 6.25 yards this past week for a YTD total of 81.20 yards  de-stashed.              

Slow stitching wise I have one more basket to do, and I will really start those leaves -lol.  If only I'd stop finding things I have to do, I might make some progress on those WIPs.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away, Connie's Linky Tuesday, and Esther's Wow. Check them out.  And leave me a comment - I'll come visit and see your goodies.

WIPs Be Gone Week 37

I'm still working on those three WIPs - a little progress but not much to show yet.  In between working on those this past week I finished the commissioned quilt.

 This was a comforter that was tied and the batting had shifted. It's the beloved quilt of my DGS so my DIL asked me to fix it.  The fabric is like brushed knit -cozy but problematic to quilt.  So I first had to deconstruct it almost totally to get it to where I could extract the batting.  Yep, the batting had shrunk about 6 inches along the long side.  It looks to be polyester and I was surprised it had shrunk. Who knew?   So cut some new batting and pin basted it heavily to be able to get a good 1/4" seam all around the edges to make an envelope.  I then turned it and check the corners. Two of them had to be resewn as the backing had worn.  I then sewed the opening closed and stitched a 1/4" away from the edge to stabilize it.

  I then heavily pined the quilt again and marked some straight lines to quilt with my walking foot.  The batting said I could easily quilt the lines 8" apart so I made a grid of 6 1/2" squares.

 I didn't go right to the edges so I wouldn't have pleats in the stretchy fabric.  The grid work also kept it nice and soft which is what he liked most of all about it.

I finished the binding on this baby quilt.  It went off to one of our St. Anne's members to tie the large page blocks and then it can go to a new baby.  Hope there is one named Noah.  It could happen as it is a popular name again.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday,  Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?,  and Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish two things.

An InLinkz Link-up

DWM and Such

I've been making tops, but the fabric is all from the St. Anne's stash, so it doesn't count toward my numbers except for the 14" square of scraps that I used for the RSC 2015 challenge . So the numbers only grew by 0.13 yd for this week. YTD total is now 74.95 yards  de-stashed.

These rows are still on my design wall.  Must get them together before Thursday AM so I can hand them over to another St. Anne's member.  

Finished the 4th RSC 2015 October block - now to design a baby quilt incorporating them.
Lastly, besides my hand stitching, I'm machine quilting a commissioned quilt. More about it later.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away, and Connie's Linky Tuesday. Be sure to visit them for eye candy.

Slow Sunday Stitching

I'm working on three projects today, trying to move them along.  First off, the linky party to WIPs Be Gone is still open (closes Monday, midnight). Come by and link and show us your last week's progress.  It can be a little or even a finish.  Old posts are welcome, too.

I've finished quilting WIP #7. Above I'm working on the binding. I decided to make it using a modified facing method and hand stitched.

The other two I'm hand stitching is a leaves on some of my Hexie Flowers and another basket block. Two more baskets to go after this one.

I'm linking to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.  Do you have a hand stitching project?

RSC 2015

I've seen many an entry through the years for this challenge at Angela's.  I've decided to give it a try, not to make the sampler, but just as a focus of using up some scraps and where to start.  This month's color is orange.

I really didn't have many scraps in my scrap bin of orange and I'm determined not to pull from the stash as that will only make more scraps. I found enough to just squeeze out four 6 1/2" stars. As I'm not making the sampler, I'll see what I can come up with  these and the one more I have to make as a baby quilt.  That star surround by orange is made up of a piece of Liberty Fabric I found in my scrap bin.  It is so, so soft. I'm linking to Angela's RSC 2015.  Come see all the other orange blocks there.  My linky for WIPs Be Gone is still open. Come on over and link your progress - even an old finish will do.

WIPs Be Gone Week 36

I quilted Noah's Ark.  It may seem like not very much, but I outlined the blocks and  "x" the corner stones. The St. Anne members will tie the blocks in five places to secure them. I'll start binding it tomorrow.  Then that one can be gifted this month.

I'm actually working on WIPs #3, 7 and 13 - just don't have photos to show you.  I hope to have some visual evidence next week so you can see the progress.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish something (quilting that baby quilt).

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique Tuesday Week 36

I am hand appliqueing the sixth basket. Three more to go and then I'll make 27 leaves for the flowers.  Once those are stitched in place, I can add the flowers. Little by little.








In the garden, even in the depth of our drought, we are blessed with touches of beautiful color:

What are you up to?  Let me know in a comment and I'll come by and have a look. I'm linking this post to Connie's Linky Tuesday and to Esther's WOW.  You should go on over to both of these ladies and see the beautiful work they are doing.

Some of This, Some of That Week 36

Not much destashed because of travels and heat.  I only used 3 yards for background for those baskets, a backing for a baby quilt, and some yardage for another charity quilt for  YTD total of 74.82 yards de-stashed.  In the order I worked on them:

 This quilt is for Baby Stella who was born a couple of weeks ago to DGS Frank's Nina, Markann"s DIL. The top was made by my DIL, Deanna.  Frank sandwiched it and I quilted it - a group effort.

 Here's the back. I FMQ around the stars, used a walking foot for the straight lines and a curvy line in the border. I only had about 6 hours in which to do all this, plus referee two grandsons before we had to deliver it. Phew. I used flannel in the back.

And here's the one we were going to give Stella at the start of the week.  Frank picked out the fabric, colored the four blocks and arranged the 6 1/2" squares.  I suggested the two diagonal rows, but the rest was his layout.  He did good!  It is now a top and will go to St. Anne's members to finish. My part is done.

Another one for St. Anne and coming off the design wall as well as the one above:

This was a 1980's cloth book panel I found in the donations from Deanna's mom.  Since I don't have anyone to give a cloth book to (and it was easier to make a top) I put this together as another one for St. Anne's.  I plan to sandwich it myself and quilt it.  The blocks are too big to just tie in the corners. They are 11 1/2 " square.

And now on my design wall are the rows for a scrappy charity quilt, also for St. Anne's.  I had all these leftover 5" squares, some 6 1/2" squares and 2" strips, that I decided to use them up for another top.  I'm calling it a squarish I Spy.  Of course I still have some scraps left, but the pile does look smaller.

I"m happy to report the temps tonight came down. Yeah!  It was only 91 at 6:30 PM - not like yesterday when it was that temp at 9:30 PM.

I'm linking to Julie's FMQ Mavericks, Sarah's Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop? and Judy's Patchwork Times. Lot of fun projects there. Take a look.

WIPs Be Gone Week 35

On my patio yesterday, it was 107.  Today, it is 108.  I'm very grateful that I have air for a second summer that is keeping the room I'm in a nice 82 degrees.  It feel like heaven compared to outside.

But I just feel so enervated. It's all I can do to type these few lines. No energy to take photos of the two baby charity quilt tops I made last week end. No energy period.

So let's link cooling photos of winter quilts
or refreshing waters. Something, anything to help us endure these temps.  I know my friends and family in the South are shaking their heads at me as they have high temps too and with their humidity - a heat index of 117 last week.  So who am I to complain?

Linky below.  Stay cool myfriends! I'm off to put on my cooling neckcloth, darken this room and take a nap.

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique Tuesday Week 35

Not back to a normal schedule yet.  Found I have one more basket to make - I have no idea where the 8th background went.  I may have left it in Colorado. Sigh.  Working on that now. I may have some finishes for Friday. On my design wall is still my WIP #7 wall hanging:

Need to sandwich so I can start quilting it.  I'm going to use the facing method to bind this. Will measure about 20 square when done.

I mentioned the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival and the Hoffman Challenge when I was vacationing.
Turns out this venue is the first place they are exhibited for the year, so we got to see them all. Way more than I realized.  Here are some I captured with my phone:

Believe this was the top winner. If it wasn't, it should have been.  Those camels seemed ready to walk right out of that quilt. Amazing!

 The challenge fabric was perfect for the tablecloths in this still life.

 Many had a Persian feel/theme to them.

 Lots of elephants in this year's offerings.

 Beautiful applique use of the challenge fabric.

Another glorious work with applique and piecing.  Wish I had had time to write down the winners and names, but I was trying to do the whole show and vendors in  a mere two and a half hours.

What are you up to?  Let me know with a comment and I"ll come by to see your goodies.
Blessings!

Winners and winnings on WIPs Be Gone Week 34

First, congratulations to Sally over at Q Bits .  She won the Edyta Sitar book from my giveaway last week.  Her link took me to her quilt show and it is amazing. Here's the photo she shared of some of her great quilts.  Well worth visiting.

And speaking of winners - I won!  I came home from Colorado to open a package from the UK that contained a beautiful thread landscape from Margaret at Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing .  Her work is amazing and the landscape came out gorgeous! I'm thrilled!!

As for me, I've had two of my DGS over for the week and no WIP work done at all, but we've had fun.  Last night (it's too hot during the day) we played miniature golf.  It was hilarious with those two. I'm so glad they are here and we can have fun together.

Budding Gamers both.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish something (a baby quilt) and did some FMQ.  Here's the finish

and the back:

And here's the linky:

An InLinkz Link-up

Applique Tuesday Week 34

Actually, no applique since I got home from CO. Did prep all 7 blocks there,  so now I can start adding the flowers - but no photos yet. I'm having the grandsons over this week - the last free one before school, so no time in the sewing room with a 11 and 13 year old around. Just got back from swimming at the neighbors. Stay cool!

WIPs Be Gone Week 33

Hello, friends - I'm still in Colorado. And to celebrate WIPs Be Gone, I'm heading to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival in Loveland, CO - just a bit down the road from Fort Collins.  It runs the 13-15th.  I'm excited because they have the entire traveling collection of the Hoffman 2015 Challenge before it is split into the 12 traveling exhibits.  I've only seen parts of it at other shows in different years. 

And if you'd like to learn how they pick the challenge fabric, go here.  I'm always amazed with what the entrants come up with for this challenge.  I'll try to take some photos if they're allowed.

I've been working on my baskets, but it's slow go with a 6 year old to interact with - LOL.  I've finished three of the 8 I brought with me so far.  Today we went to the Denver Zoo and I'm all tuckered out.

 

I can't believe how few people had hats on while visiting the zoo. There must have been only 1 out of every 25 people with a hat and it was in the middle of the day and hot. Thankfully there is quite a bit of shade along the paths, but still enough sun to warrant hats.

So while I recover,  DGS is watching a video that was part of my birthday gift to him. Then I'm making Chicken soup. And then back to the baskets.

What are you up to? I'd love to know whether WIPS or quilty news or vacation report as above -doesn't have to be a new post.  Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And to thank you for linking, I'm giving away an Edyta Sitar book, Scrappy Fireworks Quilts.  You can see it here. Her's one of the quilts from it I'd like to make:

An InLinkz Link-up

I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? because I did finish two baskets, and on Monday with Lyn for BOMs Away because I worked and made blocks. Bye for now. Bye for now,  Angie in SoCal